Ethics panel probes Youngstown park board

Ethics panel probes Youngstown park board

YOUNGSTOWN — The Ohio Ethics Commission is investigating whether the Youngstown Park and Recreation Commission illegally allowed its members to use its facilities for free.

City administration officials requested the investigation.

The city charter states all park and recreation commission members “shall serve without compensation.”

The free lifetime use of park and recreation facilities for past and present commission members, a policy approved Feb. 22 by the commission, violates the charter, and at minimum, presents an appearance of a conflict of interest, Mayor Jay Williams said.

Williams wonders whether the policy violates state law.

That’s why the state ethics commission is investigating the policy.

For the complete story, see Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.